Indianizer – Zenith: Experimental psychedelics reach for the pinnacle

Indianizer, a four-piece psych-pop outfit from Italy, dropped their latest album Zenith at the end of March 2018.

After forming in 2013, the band released two EPs in three years before following up with 2013’s Neon Hawaii, earning them wider acclaim. Indianizer claim influences that include experimental heavyweights Animal Collective and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, as well as British indie group Django Django. Zenith pays homage to all of these, but adds an international flavour that gives an extra dimension to their sound.

The unpredictability of the album is endearing, and is testament to the fact that most of the music resulted from jam sessions

The airy synths of opener ‘Dawn’ quickly burst into an echoey, rolling guitar line and drum beat, reminiscent of early 00s indie rock. The first surprise doesn’t take long to appear, however, with track three, ‘Get Up!’, striking a darker and more complex note. The song’s opening Latin drumming combines and somehow compliments the more European-sounding organ and flute lines, building towards an unlikely foot-stomper. ‘Hermanos Nascondidos’ sees the band at their most gypsy-punk, while the seven-minute ‘Bidonville’ betrays an Indian influence.

‘Mazel Tov II’, the album’s lead single, is an obvious highlight, its Brazilian beats and occasional sitar strokes further adding to the psychedelic crescendo. The unpredictability of the album is endearing, and is testament to the fact that most of the music resulted from jam sessions, with vocals being added on top later on. The result is a solid and well-rounded collection of perplexingly listenable songs. Check it out for yourselves here.